Mark Stasiuk, co-founder and fluid fx guru at Fusion CI Studios, has been facing tsunami-sized demands for fluid fx work these days — from commercial work, to network idents, to feature film. Fusion focuses exclusively on fluid and particle fx and as a result has become an invaluable resource for production companies and vfx houses around the world. more

The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) has announced nominees in the two television categories of the 22nd Annual Outstanding Achievement Awards competition. The awards gala will be held here on January 26 at the Hollywood and Highland Grand Ballroom.

Nominees vying for top honors in the TV movie/miniseries/pilot category are Oliver Bokelberg for the RAINES pilot (NBC); David Franco for the telefilm BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE (HBO); Ben Nott, ACS for the miniseries THE COMPANY (TNT); René Ohashi, ASC, CSC for the telefilm JESSE STONE: SEA CHANGE (CBS); and Michael Weaver for the PUSHING DAISIES pilot (ABC). more

NEW YORK, NY - When director Talia Lugacy and producer/star Rosario Dawson were searching for a soundtrack to their film Descent, they knew it would have to be as visceral and discordant as the film is dark and disturbing. Fortunately, they quickly found that Alex Moulton, founder and composer/creative director at New York’s Expansion Team, was on the same creative page.

“We talked about the film, especially the final scene, and how it should feel,” said Lugacy. “It was never going to be a traditional film score, which is why Alex was so perfect for it. Alex had some great ideas about how he would go about it, and how it needed to needed to feel - the sound of crazed thinking and haunted minds. I give him so much credit because it’s not a scene you want to watch more than once and he went it into it with a great bravery.” more

VH1’s Storytellers lets singers/songwriters sing, play and tell the stories behind their songs. Jay Z wanted some imagery to back him up. When the network had a last-minute need for large-scale video projector, they called on Scharff Weisberg.

Says Josh Weisberg: “VH-1 wanted a very large, very wide projected image to be the main backdrop behind Jay-Z. After quickly exploring screen options, the most practical alternative was to use the studio cyclorama – a 28’ tall wall that wraps 160’ around a corner of the studio.” more

DELUXE TO ESTABLISH MAJOR PRESENCE IN VANCOUVER

Rainmaker Animation Remains a Rainmaker Entertainment Company

VANCOUVER, B.C. November 29, 2007 – Rainmaker Income Fund (“Rainmaker”) (TSX: RNK-un) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell two divisions of its wholly owned subsidiary Rainmaker Entertainment Inc. to Deluxe Entertainment Services Group Inc. (“Deluxe”). The purchase by Deluxe will include Vancouver-based Rainmaker Visual Effects and Rainmaker Post, and Rainmaker’s London, England, visual effects facility. It will not include the Rainmaker Animation division based in Vancouver.

Rainmaker, an award winning pioneer with a 28-year history in the Canadian post production more

New Image Campaign Captures The Essence of College Football and Versus

BOSTON, MA - Looking to capture the raw essence of college football in it’s most pure form, Versus, turned to Viewpoint Creative (www.viewpointcreative.com), the advertising agency specializing in entertainment and lifestyle brands, to create a launch campaign for its college football coverage that would resonate with passionate fans. more

As a sneak preview to our November/December issue of millimeter, we present our editors’ list of Vanguard Winners for 2007. In attempting to list the most groundbreaking products released in calendar year 2007, Millimeter’s editors faced an abundance of choices. So much outstanding gear was introduced this year that our judges’ biggest challenge was choosing the correct products to honor. Congratulations to this year’s winners: more

As a sneak preview to our December issue of Digital Content Producer, we present our editors’ annual list of Vanguard Winners for 2007. Vanguard Awards go to the most groundbreaking new products for video production professionals that are released in the calendar year. Congratulations to this year’s winners: more

By Joe Augustine, Film Editor, “One Night With You”

I was driving along listening to WNJR my local funk radio station–this was in 1975. Suddenly there’s an announcement. “If you’re interested in learning about filmmaking, are currently unemployed and are a resident of Newark, New Jersey you can apply to the Filmmaking Training Program at the Theater Of Universal Images on Broad Street right next door to Symphony Hall. Manpower will pay trainees $80 a week to learn a skill.” more

Collaboration with NYC Artist Jemini Benefits from Clarity, Detail and Safety of ULTRASONE for Tracking, Mixing, Critical Listening

NEW YORK: It’s not X-rated, but something that’s decidedly for Adults Only has been happening at Will Roberson’s personal studio in New York City. An emerging producer effortlessly spanning hip hop, R&B, new age and beyond Roberson has equipped himself with the clarity and safety of ULTRASONE PROline 750 headphones (www.ultrasoneusa.com) to help create his most ambitious project yet: Adults Only, featuring the linguistic talents of rapper Jemini. more